Campus Security Services Process

When a conduct case is dismissed or deemed inconclusive by Campus Security Services, students are often referred to alternative College support services to ensure their well-being and address any underlying concerns. These support services may include counselling, mental health resources, sexual violence support, academic advising, student advocacy services, or other relevant support programs offered by the College. By redirecting students to these resources, Campus Security Services aims to provide comprehensive assistance and guidance, acknowledging that even in cases where disciplinary action is not warranted, students may still benefit from additional support and learning.

It can be imposed by Campus Security Services or a College Official when a student is disrupting college activities. It is a cautionary notice to refrain from stopping and/or not repeating the behaviour, including instructional activities and classroom disruptions. In the case of the Temporary Dismissal, the student will be dismissed from the College (e.g., specific spaces, such as the classroom and classes, lab computer, cafeteria, or the whole College premises) and will not exceed 1 College business day.

If a student is warned or temporarily dismissed, this will not appear in their official records. Still, it will be visible to Campus Security Services and the Student Code of Conduct office. This is important in case the behaviour repeats and/or escalates to a Major Case in the future, so the College has a behavioural history and better understands if there are any patterns or safety concerns. A student can receive up to 3 Warnings or Temporary Dismissals in their academic life, which can lead to more serious sanctions. However, if the misconduct is not minor, an escalation might not exist, and the case can become paramount.

Important

Before involving Campus Security Services in the matter, reflect if the issue can be informally resolved between the parties and/or managed within the classroom directly (e.g., verbal disagreement, disrespectful behaviours, interruptions during the lecture, swearing or yelling at people within the College).

This is because a College Official can issue a Warning or a Temporary Dismissal directly to a student if they find it appropriate:

1. without authorization or previous notice from Campus Security Services or the Student Code of Conduct office
2. and/or after trying to solve the matter informally, and feel the student keeps repeating the same behaviour
3. and/or they want to prevent the behaviour from being repeated.

College Officials can issue a Warning or a Temporary Dismissal to a student by filling out the Warning or Temporary Dismissal Form. A copy of it will be received by the student, Campus Security Services, and the College Official who filed it out for transparency purposes.

Let’s suppose we decide to proceed with this approach: it is highly recommended that the College Official applying the warning or temporary dismissal speak with the student(s) to clarify their reasons.  It’s important to treat the situation as a learning opportunity by explaining that if the behaviours continue, then the situation will be be escalated by involving Campus Security Services.

It can be issued when the misconduct involves alcohol, drugs, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and smoking, which violates the Trespass to Property Act (Ontario), the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, and C206: Alcohol, Cannabis, Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco Products policy. The Fine Structure tab can be found at the Campus Security Services SharePoint Portal, and once issued, they are payable through the Parking Office.

It is given directly by Campus Security Services instead of or in addition to initiating any other proceedings under the Student Code of Conduct (such as a Major Case). It will not appear on the student’s official records. Still, it can be visible to the Campus Security Services and the Student Code of Conduct office to be considered if the behaviour escalates. Multiple Violation Notices may result in a more serious sanction.

Upon assessment, if Campus Security Services decides the student misconduct is a Major Case, a preliminary investigation begins with the student who allegedly committed the misconduct being named “Respondent.” Suppose the rights of another member of the Fanshawe community (e.g., student, staff, college official, external stakeholder) are breached due to the misconduct of that student. In that case, this last party will be named “Complainant.”

Official interviews will be conducted with both parties by Campus Security Services, adhering to the principles of fairness and privacy outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, the Data Privacy Act, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

These interviews are audio and video recorded to ensure accuracy and transparency throughout the investigative process, which is thoroughly explained at the beginning of each session conducted by the Special Constables. Campus Security Services will also read the parties’ rights and explain the Student Code and the preliminary investigation processes, which have no criminal nature themselves (but can be disclosed to the Police due to the Special Constables’ duty).

By recording the interviews, the integrity of the proceedings is upheld, providing a clear record of the discussions and interactions between the student(s) and Special Constable(s) of Campus Security Services. Additionally, the recordings will be provided to the Student Code of Conduct office at the adjudication level to guarantee a thorough and complete understanding of the case.

The Risk Assessment process conducted by Campus Security Services aims to evaluate potential risks associated with a student being investigated for conduct violations under the Student Code of Conduct. The primary purpose is to ensure the safety and well-being of the College community, the Complainant, and the Respondent while addressing the alleged violation.

The Risk Assessment will evaluate the incident details itself, whether there were any physical or emotional injuries, risk factors (such as threats, substance abuse, behavioural patterns, violence, etc.), and space assessment to then determine the risk level (low, medium, or high level of concern) and any follow-up actions. By conducting a thorough risk assessment, Campus Security Services can effectively manage and mitigate potential risks while upholding the principles of fairness, accountability, and student safety within the College community. The assessment will also be provided to the Student Code of Conduct office at the adjudication level to guarantee a thorough and complete understanding of the case.

After conducting the Risk Assessment, if Campus Security Services determines that the Major Case poses a medium or high level of concern, they may issue an Investigative Suspension Order pending an investigation into allegations of a Major Case Misconduct. This is considered a non-disciplinary sanction, and the decision to impose such an order is made only after careful consideration of factors (Risk Assessment). Students under an ISO may face restrictions such as being barred from attending classes or accessing certain College facilities or privileges. Electronic access to college online services may also be discontinued. A copy of the Investigative Suspension Order form will be provided to students with details of the decision and restrictions applied to them. This process ensures that allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated while safeguarding the rights and safety of all College community members.

Campus Security Services will collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including academic program managers, to conduct the preliminary investigation swiftly and fairly. Nevertheless, at the adjudication level, the Student Code of Conduct office can lift the ISO after further verification, or if it concludes without further disciplinary action, the duration of the ISO may be used to reduce any subsequent disciplinary sanctions related to the Major Case.

Student misconduct is subject to all local, municipal, provincial, and federal laws and the College’s policies. Therefore, in certain circumstances, the College may be required to inform the Police of the need for a criminal investigation, even without the Complainant’s consent. These circumstances happen when Campus Security Services believes that the safety of other members of the Fanshawe community is at risk. Still, the confidentiality and anonymity of the person(s) affected will always be considered.

If the Police are involved, Campus Security Services will hold their preliminary investigation until further notice. When the Police either does not respond or terminates its response to a report or complaint, the College reserves the right to initiate or continue its investigation and respond to such report or complaint under the Student Code of Conduct process.

If Campus Security Services finds that the person named as Respondent is both an employee and student at the College when the incident reported happened, as per policy P208: Respectful College Community and Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination, then they must involve Fanshawe Human Resources in the matter.

Independently from what the Student Code of Conduct office might adjudicate if the Respondent is both an employee and student, Fanshawe Human Resources can also apply sanctions at their discretion, which may include but is not limited to requiring an apology, counselling, education or training, warning, suspension without pay, leave without pay, demotion, transfer, or termination of employment.

Suppose the Respondent is an employee at the College only. In that case, Campus Security Services concludes the preliminary investigation and sends it to Fanshawe Human Resources, which will conduct the appropriate steps (not the Student Code of Conduct office).

When Campus Security Services concludes the official and preliminary investigation, they will generate an Investigation Case Report and send it to the Student Code of Conduct office to be officially involved and begin adjudication. When this happens, Campus Security Services finishes their participation, and the Student Code of Conduct office takes over the process.